Hope is blessed to have a wonderful Leadership Team. Feel free to contact any team member for information.

Stephen R. Schmidt

Lead Pastor

Pastor Steve Schmidt moved from Connecticut in late August 2012 to become the new Lead Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church. For fifteen years he has served as lead pastor for St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry, CT. Pastor Steve began his pastoral ministry serving a mission congregation in Vermont and then spent fifteen years in campus ministry, serving on the campuses of Williams College, Denison University and Connecticut College. Pastor Steve is married to Joyce Guggenberger Schmidt, who is originally from Minnesota. They have two adult daughters, Sarah and Rebekah, who both work in higher education. Steve enjoys hiking, working out at the gym regularly, reading, gardening, and cooking.

Paul Goodman has been working in ministry at Hope Lutheran church since February 2010. He oversees all programs relating to children, youth and families. Paul is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and still has family there. He graduated from Capital University with a bachelor’s degree in education. For the past 13 years Paul has worked in various ministry capacities including outdoor ministry and for 6 years as director of youth and family ministry in a Lutheran Church in Florida. While working in Florida, Paul met his wife Heidi. Paul has a musical background and plays the saxophone and guitar. Paul and Heidi have a daughter named Emma. In their spare time they enjoy hiking, camping, and skiing.

Dick has been a member of Hope since 1997. Since his retirement from USDA in 2013, Dick completedthe course of study to become a Lay Pastoral Assistant or LPA. In this volunteer position he serves in apastoral role at Hope and is available to serve at other ELCA congregations in the Montana Synod. In addition Dick works with the men's ministry and small group ministry, is a Stephen's Minister at Hope;and is the Lutheran Disaster Response liaison for the Montana Synod. Dick is married and has two grown children. Dick's hobbies include woodworking, skiing, restoring old tractors, horsemanship, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Pete and his wife Nancy have been members of Hope since 1990. Pete has worked in the church office since August 2007 and is responsible for managing the church office staff, the facility, and day-to-day finances.

Dar has lived in Bozeman since August, 1994, and has been a member of Hope Lutheran Church since February, 1998. Dar and her husband Tom raised four children together. Two of Dar's sons and their families live in Minnesota, a third son lives in Boulder, Colorado, and daughter Sarah and her family reside in Bozeman. Currently Dar is the Administrative Associate at Hope. In addition to secretarial work, Dar holds a Bachelor's degree from St. Olaf College and a Masters degree in Education from St. Mary's University in Minnesota. Dar's primary responsibility to help members of our faith community find connections to serve and become involved in the mission and ministries of Hope Lutheran.